title: The effects of S-nitrosoglutathione and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine in a rat model of pre-eclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-eclampsia (PE) complicates approximately 5-7% of all pregnancies. This study investigates the effects of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) on the classical features of PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  On day 14 of gestation, female Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into five groups and treated intravenously for 7 days as follows: (i) 0.3 mL 0.9% saline (control, n = 11); (ii) 50 mg/kg Body Weight (BW) N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in 0.3 mL saline (n = 10); (iii) 50 mg/kg BW L-NAME and 8 mg/kg BW GSNO in 0.15 mL saline (n = 6); (iv) 50 mg/kg BW L-NAME in 0.15 mL saline and 8 mg/kg BW SNAP in 0.15 mL DMSO (n = 9); and (v) 0.15 mL DMSO and 0.15 mL saline (SNAP control, n = 7). Blood pressures were measured on day 14 through day 20, a 4-h urine sample was taken on day 20, and animals were sacrificed on day 21. Pups were counted and weighed individually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SNAP and GSNO significantly decreased systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures in PE-induced rats from day 14 through day 20 (P < 0.05). Pup weights in SNAP and GSNO groups were higher than in L-NAME group but lower than in controls (P ≤ 0.001). SNAP and GSNO partially reversed growth retardation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated blood pressure, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction associated with PE were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using L-NAME. These were partially reversed with the use of GSNO and SNAP. The mechanism of action of these S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) should be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, West Indies.
authors.forename: Caneta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McFarlane-Anderson
authors.forename: Ruby
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alexander-Lindo
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Donovan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGrowder
keywords: Blood pressure; N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine; S-nitrosoglutathione; pre-eclampsia